Letter to Minister Chrystia Freeland and Jesuit statement against the Emergency Act in the United States

March 1, 2019 — Provincial Erik Oland SJ wrote a letter to Minister Chrystia Freeland this week urgently informing her of the Society’s interest in the plight of expressing the Company's interest in the plight of 13 people imprisoned in Honduras.

On February 23, thirteen Honduran human rights defenders were imprisoned because of their legitimate defense of the drinking water in fourteen communities. Community leaders and organizations who have demanded that the Municipal Government carry out the legally mandated consultation of projects that impact the protected area have been the target of threats, violence, defamation, hate campaigns and now, false imprisonment. A hearing scheduled to start today, Thursday, February 28 will determine if the environmental defenders will be forced to remain in prison for up to 2.5 years as they await trial for unsubstantiated and politically motivated charges. You can read the letter here.

In addition, the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology, Kino Border Initiative, and the Ignatian Solidarity Network have issued a joint statement that condemns President Trump’s unwarranted declaration of a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border in order to unilaterally secure increased funding for additions to the border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Sixteen states have instituted legal proceedings to have the declaration of urgency annulled by law.?Ted Penton, a Jesuit from the Province of Canada, is the director of the office.

May 23, 2019 — “The Jesuits first had to learn to say: “We are responsible,” then “We are sorry,” and finally, “We need your help.” This is how Fr. Peter Bisson, SJ, summarizes the evolving relations between the Jesuits and indigenous peoples.

May 23, 2019 — Humility, communion, and renunciation are three "essential elements" for the Church to go forward, Pope Francis sayd in his homily during Mass with representatives of Caritas Internationalis.

Father Jean-Marie Rocheleau died on May 20, 2019, in the infirmary of Richelieu. He was in his 101st year and in religious life for 84 years. He is known to host the "Radio Sacré-Cœur" programs. He dedicated himself to giving the Spiritual Exercises to religious sisters, especially in Quebec.